Desk and office construction system

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides desks with which layout can be changed easily and accurately without disturbing the order of a work space and an entire office. The desk includes a base extending in a predetermined direction, a movable supporting member supported so as to be movable along the base, and a top board supported by the movable supporting member so as to be turnable in the horizontal direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a desk suitably used in an office orthe like and to an office construction system using a plurality ofdesks.

2. Background Art

Hitherto a desk have been developed with which layout of any of variouswork spaces, such as a work space in which an individual worker canconcentrate in his/her work and a work space suitable for groupcommunication such as a conference or meeting where a plurality ofpeople gather in an office space or the like, can be properly changed asthe scale becomes greater or the organization changes, or according tothe use or purpose, and an office construction system using a pluralityof such desks have been developed.

An example of such a technique is desks disposed on the floorindependently of each other and freely moved by workers, therebyenabling various work spaces to be formed (refer to, for example,Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H9-299167).

Another example is a desk constructed by forming a plurality of screwholes or fitting holes at predetermined pitches in a top boardsupporting unit provided on the floor, screwing or fitting screws orinsertion parts provided directly or indirectly for one end of the topboard to the screw holes or fitting holes, and making a leg standing onthe floor support the other end of the top board. The attachmentposition of the top board in the top board supporting unit of the deskcan be changed by changing the screw holes or fitting holes to which thescrews or insertion parts are screwed or fit.

In the former case, however, since the desks can freely move on thefloor independently of each other, each work space and an entire officetend to look unruly and disorganized upon or after a layout change.There is a problem such that the desk is not suitable as a component ofa work space and an office in which layout is frequently changed.

In the latter case, at the time of changing the attachment position ofthe top board in the top board supporting unit, the screwed or fit statebetween the screws or insertion parts provided at one end of the topboard and the screw holes or fitting holes has to be cancelled once.After that, the screws or insertion parts have to be screwed or fit indifferent screw holes or fitting holes. Such a work is troublesome. Insome cases, the user has to ask the work for a specialist. There is aproblem that the layout cannot be changed easily and accurately.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been achieved in view of such problems and anobject of the invention is to provide a desk with which layout of a workspace and a whole office can be easily and accurately changed withoutcausing disorder and an office construction system using a plurality ofsuch desks.

A desk of the present invention includes: a base extending in apredetermined direction; a movable supporting member supported so as tobe movable along the base; and a top board supported by the movablesupporting member.

With such a desk, the movement range of the top board supported by themovable supporting member is restricted by the base. A work space and anentire office can be prevented from becoming disorganized upon or aftera layout change, and the desk is suitable as a component of a work spaceand an office in which layout is changed frequently. Moreover, since themovable supporting member is movable along the base, it becomesunnecessary to perform the conventional work, which is done each timethe layout is changed, of once cancelling the screw state or the fitstate between the screws or insertion parts and the screw holes orfitting holes and screwing or fitting again the screws or insertionparts to different screw holes or fitting holes. Therefore, the layoutchange can be easily and accurately performed by a workerhimself/herself without asking the work for a specialist.

The “top board supported by the movable supporting member” denotesconcept including a “top board supported by being put on the movablesupporting member”.

Another desk according to the present invention includes a baseextending in a predetermined direction; a movable supporting membersupported so as to be movable along the base; and a top board supportedby the movable supporting member. The movable supporting member can movealong the base together with the top board in a state where the movablesupporting member supports the top board.

With the desk as well, effects similar to those of the above-describeddesk can be obtained. In addition, at the time of changing the positionof the top board relative to the base, the work of detaching the topboard from the movable supporting member and attaching the top boardagain is unnecessary, so that the operability is excellent. The “topboard supported by the movable supporting member” similarly denotesconcept including a “top board supported by being put on the movablesupporting member”.

In particular, when the top board is supported so as to be turnable inthe horizontal direction by the movable supporting member, the angle andposture of the top board with respect to the base can be selected from aposture in which the longitudinal direction of the top board is almostparallel with that of the base, a posture in which the longitudinaldirection of the top board is almost orthogonal to that of the base, andthe like. Variations of selectable layouts increase.

When the desk has a leg member for supporting a region different from aregion supported by the movable supporting member, in the top board, anda movable body capable of moving on a floor is provided at a lower endof the leg member, by movement (sliding) of the movable body along thefloor at the time of changing layout, the top board can be smoothlymoved along the base without being lifted.

To smoothly and reliably move the movable supporting member along thebase, it is sufficient to provide the base with a guide for guidingmovement of the movable supporting member, and provide the movablesupporting member with a guided part which is guided by the guide. Inthis case, preferred embodiments include a mode in which the guide is arail formed along an extension direction of the base and a mode in whichthe guided part has a rolling member capable of rolling along the railformed in the base.

Further, when the desk further includes a stationary supporting membersupported by the base and not being able to slide, and a stationary topboard supported by the stationary supporting member, by supporting themovable supporting member and the stationary supporting member by thebase in common and supporting the movable top board and the stationarytop board by each of the supporting members, the desk having the movabletop board and the stationary top board is achieved. Consequently, anarea adapted to the environment in which layout is changed frequentlyand an area adapted to the environment in which layout is not frequentlychanged can be formed in a single desk, and the desk can be flexiblyused in various layouts.

It is sufficient that the stationary supporting member is supported soas not to be able to slide along the base. For example, a stationarysupporting member fixed to the base by screwing or the like or astationary supporting member movable in a state where a part of it is incontact with or is pressed against the base may be used. That is, thestationary supporting member which is not positively moved along thebase but is movable along the base mainly at the time ofattaching/detaching the member to/from the base is preferable.

To realize a desk adapted to various work styles by setting one of areasadjacent thereto sandwiching the base as a boundary as a work space inwhich the layout can be changed and setting the other area as a workspace in which layout cannot be changed, the desk is provided with apair of upright faces facing each other along the longitudinaldirection. One of the upright faces is provided with a guide for guidingmovement of the movable supporting member, and the other upright face isprovided with an attachment part for attaching the stationary supportingmember. In this case, when the guide and the attachment part are railsof the same shape, the rails can be commonly used. As compared with themode in which the guide and the supporting member have different shapes,the structure of the base is more simplified.

In addition, when the stationary top board is cantilevered by thestationary supporting member, the leg member for supporting thestationary top board is unnecessary, and the space below the stationarytop board can be assured widely.

An office construction system of the invention includes a plurality ofdesks producing the above-described effects, and layout can be changedaccording to the kind of a work or the like.

With such an office construction system, by changing the position andposture of the top board with respect to the base, a closed environmentin which a worker can concentrate on his/her work or an open environmentcan be freely created, and a work space and an office adapted to variouskinds of works and work forms can be easily created. Moreover, since thelayout is based on the bases of the desks, a work space and an entireoffice can be optimized without becoming disordered as a whole.Improvement in the work efficiency of a worker working in a work spaceand an office formed by the office construction system can largelycontribute to improvement in the productivity of not only workers butalso the entire office.

According to the present invention as described above, since theposition/posture of the top board is changed using the base as areference, without making a work space and an entire office disordered,the layout can be easily and accurately changed by a workerhimself/herself without asking the work for a specialist whilemaintaining the order of the work space and the entire office at apredetermined level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a general schematic diagram of a desk and an officeconstruction system using the desk according to an embodiment of theinvention;

FIGS. 2A to 2C are plan views showing layout examples which can be madewith the desks of the embodiment and the office construction systemusing the desks;

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing other layout examples A-1 toA-3;

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing other layout examples A-4 toA-6;

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing other layout examples A7 andA8;

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing other layout examples B-1 toB-3;

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing other layout examples B-4 andB-5;

FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing other layout examples C-1 toC-3;

FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing other layout examples C-4 andC-5;

FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing other layout examples C-6 andC-7;

FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing other layout examples D-1 toD-3;

FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically showing other layout examples E-1 toE-3;

FIGS. 13A, 13B and 13C are diagrams showing layout examples using deskseach having a stationary top board, and an office construction systemusing the desks corresponding to FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, respectively;

FIG. 14 is a general schematic diagram of a desk according to a secondembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of a top board in the secondembodiment;

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of a supporting member in thesecond embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a partly-cutaway schematic side view of a desk having aswitching mechanism which is in a movement restricted state in thesecond embodiment;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged side view of a main part of a desk having theswitching mechanism which is in the movement restricted state in thesecond embodiment;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged plan view of a supporting member having theswitching mechanism which is in the movement restricted state in thesecond embodiment;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged bottom view of a main part of the supportingmember having the switching mechanism which is in the movementrestricted state in the second embodiment;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of the cutaway region in FIG. 17;

FIG. 22 is a partly-cutaway schematic side view of a desk having theswitching mechanism in a movement permitted state in the secondembodiment;

FIG. 23 is an enlarged side view of a main part of a desk having theswitching mechanism in the movement permitted state in the secondembodiment;

FIG. 24 is an enlarged plan view of a main part of a supporting memberhaving the switching mechanism which is in the movement permitted statein the second embodiment;

FIG. 25 is an enlarged bottom view of a main part of the supportingmember having the switching mechanism which is in the movement permittedstate in the second embodiment;

FIG. 26 is a plan view of a turn stopper rail in the second embodiment;

FIG. 27 is an exploded perspective view of a gripping mechanism in thesecond embodiment;

FIG. 28 is a diagram for explaining action;

FIG. 29 is an enlarged view of a cutaway region in FIG. 22;

FIG. 30 is a partly-omitted plan view of a desk according to the secondembodiment;

FIG. 31 is a partly-omitted plan view of a desk according to the secondembodiment in which the swivel angle of the top board is changed;

FIG. 32 is a partly-omitted cross section taken along a line x-x in FIG.30;

FIG. 33 is a partly-omitted cross section taken along a line y-y in FIG.31;

FIGS. 34A to 34C are diagrams showing layout examples using a movabletop board and a stationary top board in the second embodiment; and

FIG. 35 is an enlarged side view of a main part of a desk for showing anattachment form of a stationary supporting member to a base in thesecond embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below withreference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

A desk 1 according to a first embodiment has, as shown in FIG. 1, a base2 disposed above the floor and extending in a predetermined direction, abase supporting member 3 for supporting the base 2, a movable supportingmember 4 supported so as to be able to slide along the base 2, a topboard 5 a (or 5 b) whose one end is supported by the movable supportingmember 4, and a leg member 6 supporting the other end of the top board 5a (or 5 b) and standing on the floor. FIG. 1 shows an officeconstruction system formed by linking two desks 1 which have almost thesame shapes and configurations except for the shapes of the top boards 5a and 5 b. The same reference numerals are assigned to correspondingmembers in the diagram.

The base 2 has, for example, an almost quadrangular pillar shapeextending almost linearly. A top board guide 2A (corresponding to a“guide” in the invention) for guiding movement of the movable supportingmember 4 is provided in a pair of upright faces 21 facing each other inthe longitudinal direction of the base 2. The top board guide 2A isconstructed by rails 2 a formed along the longitudinal direction of thebase 2. In the embodiment, the top board guide 2A is formed by the pairof rails 2 a extending in parallel with each other so as to be apartfrom each other by a predetermined pitch in the height direction andeach obtained by forming a recess in each of the upright faces 21. A topface 22 of the base 2 is provided with a guide 2B for an optionalmember. The guide 2B for an optional member is constructed by using arail 2 b formed along the longitudinal direction of the base 2. In theembodiment, the guide 2B for an optional member is constructed by aplurality of rails 2 b extending in parallel with each other at apredetermined pitch in the short size direction of the base 2 and eachhaving a recess. By making an optional member slide along the optionalmember guide 2B, the position of the optional member relative to thebase 2 can be changed. In the embodiment, as optional members, a memberobtained by integrating a desk top panel DTP and a storage rack ST and atask light TL are applied. Each of the guides 2A and 2B is formed so asto extend from one end of the base 2 to the other end. An end cap 2C isdetachably attached to each of the both ends of the base 2.

The base supporting members 3 support both ends of the base 2. Each ofthe base supporting members 3 has, for example, a pillar shape whosedepth is almost equal to the short-side dimension of the base 2. In theoffice construction system according to the embodiment in which aplurality of desks 1 are linked so that their bases 2 are continuous inthe longitudinal direction, auxiliary base supporting members 3 a areintegrally assembled to, at least, the base supporting members 3positioned at both ends of the office construction system among aplurality of base supporting members 3, thereby realizing excellentself-standing performance and stability of the office constructionsystem.

The movable supporting member 4 has, as shown in FIG. 1, a top boardreceiving part 41 for supporting the top board 5 a (or 5 b) and a guidedpart 42 guided by the top board guide 2A. The top board receiving part41 directly or indirectly supports a predetermined region on one endside of the top board 5 a (or 5 b) from below. The guided part 42 has aninsertion part which can be inserted in the rail 2 a and a rollingelement (not shown) provided at the tip of the insertion part and beingable to roll along the rail.

Each of the top boards 5 a and 5 b is a board having a gourd shape(ellipse shape whose center portion is narrowed) or a rectangular shapein plan view, and is designed so that the maximum longitudinal dimensionis almost equal to or smaller than the longitudinal dimension of thebase 2. One end of each of the top boards 5 a and 5 b is supported bythe movable supporting member 4 so as to be turnable in the horizontaldirection. A concrete mode of supporting turnable the top board 5 a or 5b to the movable supporting member 4 is, for example, a simple uniaxialstructure using a single axis. In the embodiment, the under face of eachof the top boards 5 a and 5 b is positioned slightly upper than the topface 22 of the base 2, thereby avoiding interference between the topboard 5 a or 5 b and the base 2 at the time of horizontal turn of thetop board 5 a or 5 b. Although a part of the top board 5 a or 5 b andthe top face 22 of the base 2 overlap each other with a gap of apredetermined dimension in the height direction, it is designed so thata part of the top board 5 a or 5 b does not overlap the optional memberguide 2B formed in the top face 22 of the base 2, thereby avoidinginterference between a part of the optional member guided by theoptional member guide 2B and a part of the top boards 5 a and 5 b.

The leg member 6 has a leg member body 61 directly supporting the otherend of the top board 5 a or 5 b and a caster 62 as a moving member ofthe invention provided at the lower end of the leg member body 61.Obviously, the top board 5 a or 5 b whose both ends are supported by themovable supporting member 4 and the leg member 6 is designed to beparallel to the flat floor face in a normal use state.

In the desk 1 having such a configuration, by making the top board 5 aor 5 b slide along the longitudinal direction of the base 2, theposition of the top board 5 a or 5 b relative to the base 2 can bechanged. The turn angle posture of the top board 5 a or 5 b relative tothe base 2 such as a posture in which the longitudinal direction of thetop board 5 a or 5 b is almost parallel with the longitudinal directionof the base 2, or a posture in which the longitudinal direction of thetop board 5 a or 5 b is almost orthogonal to the longitudinal directionof the base 2 can be properly selected.

In the office construction system according to the embodiment in whichtwo desks 1 are linked, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A, the top boards 5 aand 5 b are set in a posture that their longitudinal direction is almostorthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the bases 2, and arepositioned on the sides apart from the other base 2 (the sides oppositeto the connection end), thereby allowing workers to use the top boards 5a and 5 b back to back. In such a manner, a first layout forming a workspace and an office in which each worker can concentrate on his/her workcan be set. In FIGS. 2A to 2C, a pattern is formed in the base 2. Asshown in FIG. 2B, the top boards 5 a and 5 b are set in a posture thattheir longitudinal direction is almost orthogonal to the longitudinaldirection of the bases 2, and are positioned on the side of connectingthe top boards 5 a and 5 b to the other base 2 (the connection endside), thereby enabling a second layout in which workers using the topboards 5 a and 5 b face each other to be set. In the second layout, awork space and an office in which workers can work while communicatingwith each other are formed. Further, as shown in FIG. 2C, the top boards5 a and 5 b are set in a posture that their longitudinal direction isalmost parallel with the longitudinal direction of the bases 2, and thetop boards 5 a and 5 b are arranged side by side in the longitudinaldirection. In such a manner, a third layout in which workers using thetop boards 5 a and 5 b sit side by side can be set. The third layoutforms a work space and an office in which workers can concentrate ontheir works while communicating with each other. By moving an optionalmember along the base 2 by using the optional member guide 2Bcorresponding to each layout, a work space and an office havingexcellent workability can be formed. A layout properly selected from atleast layouts in three patterns can be set. In FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2A to2C, a partition P partitioning work spaces of the workers is disposed.In the embodiment, an attachment member Pa for attaching the partition Pto the base 2 is provided for a part of the partition P (refer to FIG.1). According to choice of a worker, a layout using no partition P maybe employed. At the time of integrally linking the desks 2, it issufficient to use not-shown connecting means for integrally connectingone base 2 to another base 2. Examples of the connecting means includemeans using an engagement part provided for each end cap and capable ofengaging (fitting or hooking) with (to) a end cap adjacent thereto,means using an engagement part provided at an end of the base andcapable of engaging (fitting or hooking) with (to) an end of a baseadjacent thereto, and means using a fastening member such as a screw forfastening the bases 2.

In the case of changing any of the layouts to another layout, by givingan operating force for moving the top board 5 a or 5 b along the base 2or an operating force for making the top board 5 a or 5 b turn in thehorizontal direction about the base 2, the top board 5 a or 5 b can beset in a desired position or posture. In particular, in the embodiment,since the caster 62 is provided for the leg member 6 supporting theother end of the top board 5 a or 5 b, the top board 5 a or 5 b can beslid or horizontally turned about the base 2 with relatively smallforce.

Such an office construction system using a plurality of desks 1 can beset or changed in various layouts corresponding to a business style orthe kind of a work on the individual or organization unit basis as shownin FIG. 3 and subsequent figures. In each of the layouts shown in thefigures, the position and angle posture of the top plate 5 relative tothe base 2 can be easily grasped from the figures. Therefore, detaileddescription of each of the layouts will not be given.

Various layouts A-1 to A-8 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 are suitable for, forexample, work spaces and offices for office-based workers (such asmanagers).

Various layouts B-1 to B-5 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are suitable for, forexample, work spaces and offices for call centers performing receptionworks using telephone lines and network lines.

Various layouts C-1 to C-7 shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 are suitable for, forexample, work spaces and offices for planners and consultants.

Various layouts D-1 to D-3 shown in FIG. 11 are suitable for, forexample, work spaces and offices for sales departments and receptionrooms to have a meeting with a customer.

Various layouts E-1 to E-3 shown in FIG. 12 are suitable for, forexample, work spaces and offices performing group communications such asa meeting, a group work and presentation.

In FIGS. 3 to 12, in addition to the top board having a gourd shape orrectangular shape in plan view as a top board, a top board whose one endhas a polygonal shape and whose other end partly has an arc shape inplan view, an L-shaped top board, or a square-shaped top board isapplied. Irrespective of the shape, the reference numeral “5” isassigned to all of the top boards. FIGS. 3 to 12 are provided to mainlyshow the positions and postures of the top boards 5 relative to the base2. Consequently, the movable supporting members and the leg members arenot shown, and the patterns are shown in the bases 2 in a manner similarto FIGS. 2A to 2C.

Although FIGS. 1 and 2A to 2C show modes in which a single top board 5 a(or 5 b) is provided for a single base 2, FIGS. 3 to 12 show modes inwhich a plurality of top boards 5 are provided for a single base 2 inaccordance with a business style, the kind of a work, the number ofpeople, and the like. Concretely, the figures illustrate the mode ofdisposing the top boards 5 via the movable supporting members 4 to thefacing parts (the upright faces 21 shown in FIG. 1) in the longitudinaldirection in the bases 2 and a mode of disposing the plurality of topboards 5 to one upright face 21 via the movable supporting members 4(refer to A-1 in FIG. 3). When the movable supporting member 4 isdetachably supported by the base 2 (for example, the movable supportingmember 4 can be inserted/attached in a state where the end cap 2C isdetached from the end of the base 2), the number of top boards 5attached to a single base 2 can be properly selected by the userhimself/herself. As shown in A-1, A-2 in FIG. 4 and the like, the topboard 5 can be set across bases 2 adjacent thereto. On the other hand,as shown in C-5 and C-6 in FIG. 9 and the like, a layout including thebase 2 to which no top board 5 is attached may be also employed. Asshown in A-3 in FIG. 3, B-2 in FIG. 6, and the like, a layout ofdisposing the desks 1 so that the bases 2 are linked to each other inthe short size direction.

As shown in B-5 in FIG. 7, C-2 in FIG. 8, and the like, a layout inwhich the turn angle of the top board 5 relative to the base 2 is set toan angle other than 90 degrees (for example, 45 degrees) can be alsoemployed.

Since the desk 1 according to the embodiment has the base 2 extending ina predetermined direction, the movable supporting member 4 movablysupported to the base 2, and the top board 5 (5 a, 5 b) supported by themovable supporting member 4 as described above, the top board 5 (5 a, 5b) supported by the movable supporting member 4 can move along the base2. Thus, the layout can be changed easily. Because the movement range ofthe top board 5 (5 a, 5 b) is restricted by the base 2, the order of awork space and an entire office using the base 2 as a reference can bemaintained. Moreover, the movable supporting member 4 is able to slidealong the base 2. It is consequently unnecessary to perform theconventional work, which is done each time the layout is changed, ofonce cancelling the screw state or the fit state between the screws orinsertion parts and the screw holes or fitting holes and re-screwing orre-fitting the screws or insertion parts to different screw holes orfitting holes. Therefore, the layout change can be easily and accuratelyperformed by a worker himself/herself without asking the work for aspecialist.

In particular, since the top board 5 (5 a, 5 b) is supported so as to beturnable in the horizontal direction by the movable supporting member 4,only by changing the direction of the top board 5 (5 a, 5 b) withoutchanging the installation direction of the desk 1 itself, variations ofselectable layouts dramatically increase.

In addition, the caster 62 is provided for the leg member 6 supportingthe other end of the top board 5 (5 a, 5 b). Consequently, by thesliding of the caster 62 on the floor at the time of changing thelayout, the top board 5 (5 a, 5 b) can smoothly move or turn in thehorizontal direction relative to the base 2 without lifting the topboard 5 (5 a, 5 b).

Further, since the base 2 is provided with the top board guide 2A forguiding movement of the movable supporting member 4 and the movablesupporting member 4 is provided with the guided part 42 to be guided bythe top board guide 2A, the movable supporting member 4 can beaccurately moved relative to the base 2. In particular, the top boardguide 2A is the rail 2 a formed along the extension direction of thebase 2 and the guided part 42 has a rolling member capable of rollingalong the rail 2 a. Consequently, the top board guide 2A and the guidedpart 42 can be realized with a simple structure at low cost.

In the office construction system using a plurality of desks 1 accordingto the embodiment, by making the top board 5 (5 a, 5 b) move or turn inthe horizontal direction relative to the base 2 by the worker at thetime of scale enlargement, organization change, or the like, anindividual work area or common work area can be properly formed. Aclosed environment in which a worker can concentrate on his/her work oran open environment can be freely created. Moreover, the layout can bechanged without causing disorder, and a work space and an entire officecan be optimized. Improvement in the work efficiency of a worker workingin a work space and an office formed by the office construction systemcan largely contribute to improvement in the productivity of not onlyworkers but also the entire office.

In the desk 1 according to the embodiment and the office constructionsystem using a plurality of desks 1, as shown in FIGS. 13A to 13C, astationary top board 5X whose relative position cannot be changed can beattached to the base 2.

The stationary top board 5X is supported by one or more stationarysupporting members 4X supported to the base 2 so as not to be able toslide. In the embodiment, the stationary top board 5X having an almostrectangular shape in plan view and whose longitudinal dimension isalmost the same as that of the base 2 is used. The stationary supportingmembers 4X are integrally attached to both ends of the stationary topboard 5X and are supported by the base 2, thereby receiving the loadapplied on the stationary top board 5X by the stationary supportingmembers 4X and the base 2. That is, one side of the stationary top plate5X is supported by the base 2 via the stationary supporting members 4X.

The stationary supporting member 4X can be attached to the rail 2 aformed in the upright face 21 of the base 2. That is, the rail 2 a playsthe role of an “attachment part” for attaching the stationary supportingmember 4X. The stationary supporting member 4X is properly fixed in astate where an installation part provided at one end is inserted in therail 2 a. In the embodiment, such stationary fixing members 4X areprovided for both sides of the stationary top board 5X, and thestationary top board 5X is supported only by the stationary supportingmembers 4X.

In such a manner, in the embodiment, the movable supporting member 4 andthe stationary supporting member 4X can be attached to the base 2 usingthe rails 2 a having the same shape and the same structure. AlthoughFIGS. 13A to 13C show the mode in which the end on the base 2 side ofthe stationary top board 5X is positioned close to or in contact withthe upright face 21 of the base 2, a mode in which the end on the sideof the base 2 of the stationary top board 5X is apart from the uprightface 21 of the base 2 by a predetermined distance may be employed. InFIGS. 13A to 13C, chairs disposed for the stationary top boards 5X arenot shown.

As described above, the desk 1 according to the embodiment can beprovided with the stationary supporting member 4X supported by the base2 so as not to be able to slide and the stationary top board 5Xsupported by the stationary supporting member 4X. Therefore, as shown inFIGS. 13A to 13C, an area in which the layout can be changed by usingthe base 2 in common and an area in which the layout cannot be changedcan be formed in the area of a single desk 1. The invention can beapplied to both of an environment in which the layout is changedfrequently and an environment in which the layout is not changed.

Further, by setting one of areas adjacent thereto using the base 2 as aborder as a work space in which the layout can be changed and settingthe other area as a work space which is not suitable for a layoutchange, the invention can be flexibly adapted to various work styles.

In particular, the movable supporting members 4 can be moved relative tothe bases 2 using the rails 2 a having the same shape and the stationarysupporting members 4X can be attached to the bases 2. Therefore, at thetime of selecting or changing a desired mode from a mode using one ofareas across the base 2 as a border as a work space in which the layoutcan be changed and using the other area as a work space in which thelayout cannot be changed, a mode of setting both of the areas as areasin each of which the layout can be changed, and a mode of setting bothof the areas as areas in each of which the layout cannot be changed, thecommon rails 2 can be used without changing the rails 2.

In addition, one side of the stationary top board 5X is supported by thestationary supporting member 4X, so that a leg member is unnecessary.Thus, the space below the stationary top board 5X can be assured wide.

Second Embodiment

The desk 1 according to a second embodiment is based on the technicalidea similar to that of the desk 1 according to the first embodiment,and their parts are further embodied. In the following description,reference numerals of members in the second embodiment and those of themembers in the first embodiment are given separately. In some cases, thesame reference numeral is given to different members.

A desk 1 according to the second embodiment has, as shown in FIG. 14, abase 2 extending in the horizontal direction, a base supporting member 3for supporting the base 2, a movable supporting member 4 supported so asto be able slide along the base 2, a top board 5 whose one end issupported by the movable supporting member 4, a leg member 6 supportingthe other end of the top board 5 and standing on the floor, a stationarysupporting member immovably supported by the base 2, and a stationarytop board whose one side is supported by the stationary supportingmember. FIG. 14 shows an office construction system formed by linkingtwo such desks 1.

The base 2 has, as shown in FIGS. 14, 17, 18 and the like, an almostquadrangular pillar shape extending almost linearly. Rail grooves 21 and22 functioning as top board guides for guiding movement of the movablesupporting member 4 are formed in a pair of upright faces 2A facing eachother in the longitudinal direction of the base 2. In the embodiment, apair of rail grooves 21 and 22 extending in the longitudinal directionof the base 2 in parallel with each other so as to be apart from eachother by a predetermined pitch in the height direction are formed ineach of the upright faces 2A. In the following description, the railgroove formed relatively upper will be called an “upper rail groove 21”and the rail groove formed relatively lower will be called a “lower railgroove 22”. The upper and lower rail grooves 21 and 22 have almost thesame shape, and the height of the internal space (internal space height)is set to be larger than that of the opening (opening height). In thefollowing description, with respect to upright walls facing each otherin the rail grooves 21 and 22, upright walls on the opening side will becalled “opening-side upright walls” (“an opening-side upright wall 21 aof the upper rail groove 21” and “an opening-side upright wall 22 a ofthe lower rail groove 22”), and upright walls on the deeper side will becalled “deeper-side upright walls” (“a deeper-side upright wall 21 b” ofthe upper rail groove 21” and “a deeper-side upright wall 22 b of thelower rail groove 22”). The opening-side upright walls 21 a and 22 aextend downward from the upper edge of the rail grooves 21 and 22.

In a top face 2B of the base 2, a rail groove functioning as an optionalmember guide for guiding movement of an optional member not shown isformed. In the embodiment, in the top face 2B, a plurality of (five inthe diagram) rail grooves 23 apart from each other in a predeterminedpitch in the short size direction of the base 2 and extending parallelwith each other are formed. By making an optional member (not shown)slide along the optional member guide, the position of the optionalmember relative to the base 2 can be changed. As the optional member, adesktop panel and task light are applied.

Each of the rail grooves 21, 22, and 23 is formed so as to extend fromone end of the base 2 to the other end. An end cap 2C is detachablyattached to each of the both ends of the base 2 (refer to FIG. 14) (eachof FIGS. 17 and 18 and FIGS. 22 and 23 to be described later shows thebase 2 from which the end cap 2C is detached).

As shown in FIG. 14, the base supporting members 3 support both ends ofthe base 2. Each of the base supporting members 3 has, for example, apillar shape or square pipe shape whose depth is almost equal to theshort dimension of the base 2. In the office construction system inwhich a plurality of desks 1 are linked so that their bases 2 arecontinuous in the longitudinal direction, first auxiliary basesupporting members 31 are integrally assembled to, at least, the basesupporting members 3 positioned at both ends of the office constructionsystem among a plurality of base supporting members 3 by proper means,and second auxiliary base supporting members 32 are integrally assembledto the other base supporting members 3 by proper means, therebyrealizing excellent self-standing performance and stability of theoffice construction system. In FIGS. 17 and 18 and FIGS. 22 and 23 to bedescribed later, the auxiliary base supporting members 31 and 32 are notshown.

The movable supporting member 4 has, as shown in FIGS. 16 to 19 and thelike, a supporting member body 41 for supporting the top board 5 and aslide device 42 being able to slide along the rail grooves 21 and 22.

The supporting member body 41 supports a predetermined region on one endside of the top board 5 from below. The supporting member body 41according to the second embodiment has a frame body 411 and prioritysupports 412 projecting from the top face of the frame body 411 andcoming into contact with the under face of the top board 5 before theframe body 411.

The frame body 411 is obtained by rigidly integrating, by welding or thelike, a pair of facing frames 411 a almost orthogonal to thelongitudinal direction of the base 2 and facing each other, a front-endframe 411 b positioned at the front end side of the facing faces 411 a,and a pair of connection frames 411 c connecting the front end parts ofthe facing frames 411 a and the ends of the front-end frame 411 b in astate where the frames are supported by the base 2. The top faces of theframes 411 a, 411 b, and 411 c are almost flush with each other. Areinforcement frame 411 d is integrally rigidly connected between theinner faces at the base ends of the facing frames 411 a. The top face ofthe reinforcement frame 411 d is set to be lower than the top faces ofthe other frames 411 a, 411 b, and 411 c. Each of the frames 411 a, 411b, 411 c, and 411 d has an angular cylindrical shape.

The priority supports 412 are constructed as support pins projected fromthe top face of the frame member 411 in the embodiment. In theembodiment, the top board 5 is horizontally turnable about the movablesupporting member 4. The mounting positions of the plurality of prioritysupports 412 are set so that the top board 5 can be supported at pluralpoints irrespective of the angle of the top board 5 relative to themovable supporting member 4. Concretely, total four priority supports412 are provided in positions near the front end and the base ends ofthe facing frames 411 a (more concretely, positions near the joint partsof the reinforcement frame 411 d). Each of the priority supports 412 isconstructed by a nut 412 a fixed to the top face of the frame body 411and a pin body 412 b which can screw in the nut 412 a (see FIG. 18).

The slide device 42 has, as shown in FIGS. 16 to 20, a slider body 421,a pair of switching units 422, an interlocking mechanism 423 making theswitching units 422 operate so as to interlock, and an operating part424 for performing a predetermined operation.

The slider body 421 has a body part 4211 extending along thelongitudinal direction of the base 2 and a reinforcement member 4212disposed so as to have a predetermined gap with the body part 4211 andalmost parallel with the body part 4211 (see FIGS. 19 and 20).

The body part 4211 has an upright piece 4211 a facing the upright face2A of the base 2, a pair of side pieces 411 b extending forward fromboth ends of the upright piece 4211 a, and an upper piece 4211 c and alower piece 4211 d extending forward from the upper and lower edges ofthe upright piece 4211 a. In the embodiment, by bending a single steelplate, the upright piece 4211 a, side pieces 4211 b, upper piece 4211 c,and lower piece 4211 d are formed. A reinforcement piece 4211 e forpreventing deformation of the body part 4211 is provided between theupper piece 4211 c and the lower piece 4211 d at both ends of the bodypart 4211 (see FIGS. 16 and 18).

A pair of first connection stays 43 extending in the direction almostorthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the body part 4211 areintegrally attached in positions near both ends of the body part 4211 bywelding or the like. Between the inner faces of the first connectionstays 43, the reinforcement member 4212 is provided. A second connectionstay 44 is integrally attached by welding or the like between the topface of the rear end of the first connection stay 43 and the under faceof the front end of the facing frame 411 a of the frame body 411 (seeFIGS. 16 and 18 and the like).

The reinforcement member 4212 has an almost U shape in cross section andincludes an upright piece 4212 a facing the upright piece 4211 a of thebody part 4211 and an upper piece 4212 b and a lower piece 4212 cextending from the upper and lower edge of the upright piece 4212 atoward the frame body 411 side (the side opposite to the base 2). Bothends of the reinforcement member 4212 are integrally attached to theinner faces of the first connection stay 43 by welding or the like (seeFIGS. 19 and 20).

Each of the switching units 422 has, as shown in FIGS. 16 to 20, anupper contact member 4A which can come into contact with theopening-side upright wall 21 a of the upper rail groove 21, a lowercontact member 4B which can come into contact with the deeper-sideupright wall 22 b of the lower rail groove 22, an upper rolling member4C which can be in contact with the opening-side upright wall 21 a ofthe upper rail groove 21, a lower rolling member 4D which can be incontact with the deeper-side upright wall 22 b of the lower rail groove22, and a switching mechanism 4E capable of switching between a movementrestriction state of restricting the movement of the slide device 42 anda movement permission state of permitting the movement of the slidedevice 42.

The upper contact member 4A is positioned nearer to the opening-sideupright wall 21 a side of the upper rail groove 21 than the upperrolling member 4C in the movement restriction state. In the embodiment,as the upper contact member 4A, an upward-projection piece obtained bybringing up the upper piece 4211 c of the body part 4211 to the base 2side (forward) and projecting upward is used. That is, the upper contactmember 4A is formed integrally with the body part 4211 as a component ofthe slider body 421, is made of the steel plate, and has excellentrigidity.

The lower contact member 4B is positioned nearer to the deeper-sideupright wall 22 b side of the lower rail groove 22 than the lowerrolling member 4D in the movement restriction state. In the embodiment,as the lower contact member 4B, a block made of a rigid material isapplied. The lower contact member 4B is attached to the tip of aforward/backward moving member 4F which can go out/in the body part 4211of the slider body 421 (see FIGS. 18 and 20). In the embodiment, a boltwhich can go in/out by the screwing action is applied as theforward/backward moving member 4F. The forward/backward moving member 4Fcan be screwed in a nut 4211 g held by a nut holding piece 4211 fprovided continuously from the lower piece 4211 d of the body part 4211so as not to be rotatable, and its tip has a flange 4Fa capable ofpressing the rear face of the lower contact member 4B. The lower contactmember 4B has a guide member 4Ba extending rearward from the rear face.By inserting the guide member 4Ba into a guide hole (not shown) formedin the nut 4211 g, forward/backward movement of the lower contact member4B accompanying the forward/backward movement of the forward/backwardmoving member 4F can be accurately and smoothly performed. In theembodiment, as the guide member 4Ba, a pair of pin-shaped membersprovided in positions parallel with the forward/backward moving member4F and sandwiching the forward/backward moving member 4F is applied.

The upper rolling member 4C is positioned apart from the opening-sideupright wall 21 a of the upper rail groove 21 more than the upperrolling member 4C in the movement restriction state. In the embodiment,a pair of rollers rotatable around the vertical axis is applied as theupper rolling members 4C. The pair of upper rotating members 4C issupported by a common upper roller supporting member 4Ca.

The lower rolling member 4D is positioned apart from the deeper-sideupright wall 22 b of the lower rail groove 22 more than the lowerrolling member 4D in the movement restriction state. In the embodiment,a pair of rollers capable of rotating around the vertical axis isapplied as the lower contact member 4B. The pair of lower rollingmembers 4D is supported by a common lower roller supporting member 4Da.The upper rolling member 4C and the lower rolling member 4D function asa “guided part” of the invention.

The switching mechanism 4E can switch between the movement restrictionstate and the movement permission state. In the movement restrictionstate, the contact members 4A and 4B are allowed to come into contactwith the upright walls 21 a and 22 b of the rail grooves 21 and 22 inpriority to the rolling members 4C and 4D. In the movement permissionstate, the contact state between the contact members 4A and 4B and theupright walls 21 a and 22 b of the rail grooves 21 and 22 is cancelledby moving the rolling members 4C and 4D relative to the contact members4A and 4B.

In the embodiment, the slide device 42 is provided with asynchronization mechanism 4G for making the movement of the upperrolling member 4C and the movement of the lower rolling member 4Dsynchronized.

As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the synchronization mechanism 4G has anupper link 4G1 provided with the upper rolling member 4C at its end, alower link 4G2 provided with the lower rolling member 4D at its end, anda vertical shaft 4G3 as a common rotary shaft of the upper and lowerlinks 4G1 and 4G2. By making the upper and lower links 4G1 and 4G2horizontally turn around the vertical shaft 4G3 as a center on the basisof an operational force applied to the operation part 424, the movementof the upper rolling member 4C and the movement of the lower rollingmember 4D are synchronized.

The upper link 4G1 is provided with the upper roller supporting member4Ca supporting the upper rolling member 4C at its tip 4G1 a. In theupper link 4G1, the tip 4G1 a and a base 4G1 b form a relative angle sothat they are almost orthogonal to each other, and the tip 4G1 a and thebase 4G1 b are connected via a long connection part 4G1 c (see FIG. 19).An inner swelling part 4G1 d which swells to the inside is provided nearthe tip 4G1 a of the upper link 4G1, and a vertical shaft insertion hole(not shown) in which the vertical shaft 4G3 can be inserted is formed inthe inner swelling part 4G1 d. A long hole 4G1 e is formed in the base4G1 b of the upper link 4G1. The region around the tip 4G1 a of theupper link 4G1 can be mounted on the upper piece 4211 c of the body part4211 of the slider body 421.

The lower roller supporting member 4Da supporting the lower rollingmembers 4D is provided at the tip 4G2 a of the lower link 4G2 via anadjustment link 4G21. In the lower link 4G2, the tip 4G2 a and a base4G2 b form a relative angle so that they are almost orthogonal to eachother, and the tip 4G2 a and the base 4G2 b are connected via a longconnection part 4G2 c (see FIG. 20). The dimension in the longitudinaldirection of the connection part 4G2 c is set to be smaller than that ofthe connection part 4G1 c of the upper link 4G1. It is set so that, whenthe lower link 4G2 and the upper link 4G1 are overlapped, the tip 4G2 aof the lower link 4G2 is positioned on the inner side of the tip 4G1 aof the upper link 4G1 in plan view. An outer swelling part 4G2 d thatswells outward is provided in a region near the tip 4G2 a of the lowerlink 4G2. In the outer swelling part 4G2 d, a vertical shaft hole whichis communicated with the vertical shaft insertion hole formed in theupper link 4G1 is formed. A long hole 4G2 e is formed in the base 4G2 bof the lower link 4G2. The region near the tip 4G2 a of the lower link4G2 is positioned on the under face side of the lower piece 4211 d ofthe body part 4211.

In the embodiment, a reinforcement link 4G4 is interposed between theupper link 401 and the lower link 4G2. The reinforcement link 4G4 has aplate shape and interposes in an upright posture between the upper link4G1 and the lower link 4G2. More concretely, the reinforcement link 4G4is interposed between the connection parts 4G1 c and 4E21 a of the upperand lower links 4G1 and 4G2 (see FIGS. 19 and 20). The links 4G1 and 4G2and the reinforcement link 4G4 can be assembled by fitting a projection4C41 of the reinforcement link 4G4 in fitting holes 4G1 f and 4G2 fformed in the connection parts 4G1 c and 4G2 c of the links 4G1 and 4G2.

The vertical shaft 4G3 can be inserted in the vertical shaft holesformed in the upper and lower links 4G1 and 4G2. In the embodiment,communication holes (not shown) communicated with the vertical shaftholes are formed also in the upper and lower pieces 4211 c and 4211 d ofthe body part 4211, and the vertical shaft 4G3 is continuously insertedalso in the communication holes. The vertical shaft 4G3 is retained byhaving a head part of a large diameter, having a fastener such as an Ering, by caulking, or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, using an imaginary line L passing thecenter of the vertical shaft 4G3 and almost orthogonal to the slidemovement direction as a border, the tip 4G1 a of the upper link 4G1 ispositioned in one of the regions (concretely, the outside region), andthe tip 4G2 a of the lower link is positioned in the other region(concretely, the inside region). As a result, when the force of rotationaround the vertical shaft 4G3 as a center acts on the upper and lowerlinks 4G1 and 4G2, the upper rolling member 4C provided at the tip ofthe upper link 4G1 moves toward the opening-side upright wall 21 a ofthe upper rail groove 21, and the lower rolling member 4D provided atthe tip of the lower link 4G2 (via the adjustment link 4G21) movestoward the deeper-side upright wall 22 b of the lower rail groove 22. Onthe other hand, when the force of reverse rotation around the verticalshaft 4G3 as a center acts on the upper and lower links 4G1 and 4G2, theupper rolling member 4C provided at the tip of the upper link 4G1 movesso as to be apart from the opening-side upright wall 21 a of the upperrail groove 21, and the lower rolling member 4D provided at the tip ofthe lower link 4G2 (via the adjustment link 4G21) moves so as to beapart from the deeper-side upright wall 22 b of the lower rail groove22. With such a configuration, the movement of the upper rolling member4C and the movement of the lower rolling member 4D accompanying theswitching operation can be synchronized.

The slide device 42 according to the embodiment in which a pair of theswitching units 422 each having such a configuration is provided inpositions apart from each other in the sliding direction also has theinterlocking mechanism 423 for making the switching units 422 operate soas to interlock.

As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the interlocking mechanism 423 has a commonlink interlocking member 4231 to which the bases 4G1 b and 4G2 b of thelinks 4G1 and 4G2 of the switching units 422 are connected. Theinterlocking mechanism 423 operates the link interlocking member 4231 onthe basis of an operational force applied to the operating part 424,thereby moving the links 4G1 and 4G2 of the switching units 422 so as tointerlock, and (almost) simultaneously moving the rolling members 4C and4D provided for the tips 4G1 a and 4G2 a of the links 4G1 and 4G2.

The link interlocking member 4231 has an upright piece 4231 a havingheight smaller than the dimension of a gap in the height directionbetween the upper link 4G1 and the lower link 4G2, a pair of side pieces4231 b extending forward from both ends of the upright piece 4231 a, andan upper piece 4231 c and a lower piece 4231 d extending forward fromthe upper and lower edges of the upright piece 4231 a. In theembodiment, by bending a single steel plate, the upright piece 4231 a,side pieces 4231 b, upper piece 4231 c, and lower piece 4231 d areformed. A pair of link shaft insertion holes (not shown) are formed inthe upper and lower pieces 4231 c and 4231 d of the link interlockingmember 4231. By inserting link shafts 4232 in a state where the linkshaft insertion holes and the long holes 4G1 e and 4G2 e formed in thelinks 4G1 and 4G2 of the switching units 422 are communicated with eachother, the link interlocking member 4231 and the switching units 422 areassociated with each other. Each of the link shafts 4232 is retained byhaving a head part of a large diameter, having a fastener such as an Ering, by caulking, or the like. The link interlocking member 4231 havingsuch a configuration is set to be able to move forward or backward byusing a space (gap) formed between the body part 4211 of the slider body421 and the retaining member 4212 on the basis of an operating forceapplied to the operating part 424 to be described next.

The operating part 424 has, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, a slidingoperation lever 4241 for applying an operating force directly from theuser, a sliding operation lever shaft 4242 as the rotary shaft of thesliding operation lever 4241, and a sliding operation lever wear plate4243 for restricting the rotational angle of the sliding operation lever4241.

The sliding operation lever 4241 has a tongue 4241 a at its tip and hasa cam face 4241 b in its base. The height dimension of the slidingoperation lever 4241 is set to be smaller than the distance of the gapbetween the upper piece 4212 b and the lower piece 4212 c of thereinforcement member 4212 so that the sliding operation lever 4241 canbe housed in the reinforcement member 4212.

The sliding operation lever wear plate 4243 has a pair of right and leftcontact parts 4243 a with which a part of the sliding operation lever4241 can come into contact, an upper piece 4243 b connecting the upperends of the contact parts 4243 a, a lower piece 4243 c connecting thelower ends of the contact parts 4243 a, and a pair of side pieces 4243 dextending forward from side edges of each of the contact parts 4243 a. Aspace in which rotation within a predetermined angle range of thesliding operation lever 4241 is permitted is formed between the contactparts 4243 a. In the embodiment, by bending a single steel plate, thecontact parts 4243 a, the upper piece 4243 b, lower piece 4243 c, andside pieces 4243 d are formed. The height of the sliding operation leverwear plate 4243 is set to be larger than the height of the slidingoperation lever 4241 and smaller than the distance of the gap betweenthe upper piece 4212 b and the lower piece 4212 c of the reinforcementmember 4212 so that the sliding operation lever wear plate 4243 can behoused together with the sliding operation lever 4241 in thereinforcement member 4212. The sliding operation lever wear plate 4243is integrally attached to the rear face of the upright piece 4212 a ofthe reinforcement member 4212 by welding or the like. A slidingoperation lever shaft insertion hole (not shown) in which the slidingoperation lever shaft 4242 can be inserted is formed in each of theupper and lower pieces 4212 b and 4212 c of the reinforcement member4212, the upper and lower pieces 4243 b and 4243 c of the slidingoperation ever wear plate 4243, and the base of the sliding operationlever 4241. By inserting the sliding operation lever shaft 4242 in astate where the sliding operation lever shaft insertion holes arecommunicated with each other, the reinforcement member 4212, slidingoperation lever wear plate 4243, and sliding operation lever 4241 areassociated with each other, and the sliding operation lever 4241 canrotate around the sliding operation lever shaft 4242. In the uprightpiece 4212 a of the reinforcement member 4212, a notch for avoidinginterference between the base of the sliding operation lever 4241 andthe reinforcement member 4212 occurring at the time of turning of thesliding operation lever 4241 is formed.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 21, the top board 5 connected to such a movablesupporting member 4 via a hinge mechanism H has a movable top board 51which can turn in the horizontal direction relative to the movablesupporting member 4 and a turning mechanism 52 supporting turnable themovable top board 51 in the horizontal direction and connected to themovable supporting member 4 via a hinge mechanism H. In the followingdescription of the top board 5, the base 2 side will be called a frontside, and the opposite side will be called a rear side.

The movable top board 51 has a movable top board body 511 and a topboard receiving part 512 supporting the movable top board body 511.

The movable top board 51 has, for example, a gourd shape (ellipse shapewhose center portion is narrowed) in plan view. In the embodiment, themovable top board 51 having a relatively large size is applied. Themaximum longitudinal dimension of the movable top board 51 is set to bealmost the same or slightly smaller than the longitudinal dimension ofthe base 2.

The top board receiving part 512 has a top board receiving part body5121 supporting the under face of the movable top board body 511 (theunder face in the front half region of the movable top board body 511 inthe example of the diagram), and a turn stopper rail 5122 provided so asto project downward from the top board receiving part body 5121. Theturn stopper rail 5122 functions as an “object to be gripped” and itsdetailed shape and the like will be described later. The top boardreceiving part body 5121 and the turn stopper rail 5122 are integrallyattached to the under face side of the movable top board body 511 byscrewing or the like.

The turning mechanism 52 has a turntable 521 and a turntable receivingpart 522 supporting the turntable 521.

The turntable 521 uses, for example, a thrust bearing. The radius of theturntable 521 is set to be smaller than the radius of the turn stopperrail 5122 so that the turntable 521 and the turn stopper rail 5122 donot interfere each other. The height of the turntable 521 is set to besmaller than that of the turn stopper rail 5122.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 21, the turntable receiving part 522 has aturntable receiving part body 5221 supporting the whole region of theunder face of the turntable 521 and a hinge shaft supporting body 5222provided on the under face of the turntable receiving part body 5221. Inthe embodiment, the turntable receiving part body 5221 and the hingeshaft supporting body 5222 are integrally assembled with proper meanssuch as a plurality of screws. The details of the hinge shaft supportingbody 5222 will be described later. In the center of the turntablereceiving part 522, a turn stopper mechanism fitting hole 5223 forproviding a turn stopper mechanism 4K (see FIG. 17) is formed. The turnstopper mechanism fitting hole 5223 has a rectangular shape. It is setso that the turn stopper mechanism 4K cannot turn in the turn stoppermechanism fitting hole 5223 in a state where the turn stopper mechanism4K is fit in the turn stopper mechanism fitting hole 5223.

The leg member 6 supporting the other end of the top board 5 has a legmember body 61 and a moving body 62 (caster in the diagram) provided atthe lower end of the leg member body 61.

In the desk 1 of the embodiment, such a top board 5 and the movablesupporting member 4 are coupled to each other via the hinge mechanism H.

The hinge mechanism H has, as shown in FIG. 21, a hinge shaft H1, thehinge shaft supporting body 5222 of the turntable receiving part 522,and a hinge shaft receiving body 4111 provided for the frame body 411 ofthe movable supporting member 4.

The hinge shaft H1 has an almost pin shape integrally including a shaftand a head having a diameter larger than that of the shaft.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 21, the hinge shaft supporting body 5222 has ahorizontal piece 5222 a and a pair of trailing pieces 5222 b trailingfrom both edges of the horizontal piece 5222 a. A first insertion hole5222 c for a hinge shaft in which the hinge shaft H1 can be inserted isformed in each of the trailing pieces 5222 b. The first insertion holes5222 c for the hinge shaft can support the hinge shaft H1 in a statewhere there is almost no play. The pair of trailing pieces 5222 b isprovided in a region near the rear end of the horizontal piece 5222 a.In the turntable 522 obtained by integrally assembling the hinge shaftsupporting body 5222 and the turntable receiving part body 5221, thepair of trailing pieces 5222 b and the first insertion holes 5222 c forthe hinge shaft are positioned near the rear end of the turntablereceiving part 522.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 21, the hinge shaft receiving body 4111 isprovided on the inner face of the front end frame 411 b of the framebody 411. The hinge shaft receiving body 4111 has an upright piece 4111a in contact with the inner face of the front-end frame 411 b, a pair offacing pieces 4111 b extending forward from both ends of the uprightpiece 4111 a and facing each other, and a horizontal piece 4111 cextending forward from the lower end of the upright piece 4111 a. Ineach of the facing pieces 4111 b, a second insertion hole 4111 d for ahinge shaft in which the hinge shaft H1 can be inserted is formed. Eachof the second insertion holes 4111 d for the hinge shaft can support thehinge shaft H1 with play. In the embodiment, a long hole extending inthe height direction is applied as the second insertion hole 4111 d forthe hinge shaft. The longitudinal dimension of the pair of facing pieces4111 b is set so that the front ends are positioned on the rear side ofthe connection part of the facing frames 411 a and the connection frame411 c of the frame body 411 (on the side opposite to the base 2, inother words, the side of the front-end frame 411 b). As a result, thesecond insertion hole 4111 d for the hinge shaft formed in each of thefacing pieces 4111 b is also positioned on the rear side of theconnection part of the facing frame 411 a and the connection frame 411c. Accordingly, the hinge shaft H1 supported in the second insertionholes 4111 d for the hinge shaft is positioned on the rear side (on theside opposite to the base 2) of the priority support 412 providedfurthest from the base 2 among the plurality of priority supports 412(refer to FIG. 21 in which the pattern is formed in the prioritysupports 412).

By inserting the hinge shaft H1 in the holes 5222 c and 4111 d in astate where the first insertion hole 5222 c for the hinge shaft in thehinge shaft supporting body 5222 and the second insertion hole 4111 dfor the hinge shaft in the hinge shaft receiving body 4111 arecommunicated with each other, the top board 5 and the movable supportingmember 4 are coupled to each other via the hinge mechanism H. In thecoupled state, the hinge shaft H1 of the hinge mechanism H is positionedapart from the support region of the priority support 412. The hingeshaft H1 is retained by having a head part of a large diameter, having afastener such as an E ring, by caulking, or the like.

A method of using the desk 1 will be described by paying attention to,particularly, operation and action when the top board 5 and the movablesupporting member 4 are allowed to slide along the base 2 or when theslide is restricted.

First, in the case of switching the switching mechanism 4E of each ofthe switching units 422 from the movement restriction state (see FIGS.17 to 20) to the movement permission state (see FIGS. 22 to 25), theuser grips the tongue 4241 a of the sliding operation lever 4241 andperforms the operation of turning the sliding operation lever 4241 inthe direction of the arrow A in FIGS. 19 and 20 around the slidingoperation lever shaft 4242 as a center. Accompanying the turn of thesliding operation lever 4241, the link interlocking member 4231 pressedagainst the cam face 4241 b of the sliding operation lever 4241 movesfrom the reinforcement member 4212 toward the body part 4211 (see FIGS.24 and 25). The links 4G1 and 4G2 of the switching units 422, whosebases 4G1 b and 4G2 b are connected to the link interlocking member4231, turn around the link shafts 4232 as a center so as to interlock.In each of the switching units 422, the upper link 4G1 and the lowerlink 4G2 facing each other in the height direction turn around thecommon link shaft 4232 as a center, so that the upper rolling member 4Cprovided at the tip 4G1 a of the upper link 4G1 via the upper rollersupporting member 4Ca moves toward the opening-side upright wall 21 a ofthe upper rail groove 21, and the lower rolling member 4D provided forthe tip 4G2 a of the lower link 4G2 via the adjustment link 4G21 and thelower roller supporting member 4Da moves toward the deeper-side uprightwall 22 b of the lower rail groove 22. As a result, as shown in FIG. 23,the switching mechanism 4E of each of the switching units 422 enters themovement permission state in which the contact state of the uppercontact member 4A to the opening-side upright wall 21 a of the upperrail groove 21 is cancelled, the upper rolling member 4C is allowed tocome into contact with the opening-side upright wall 21 a in the upperrail groove 21, the contact state of the lower contact member 4B to thedeeper-side upright wall 22 b in the lower rail groove 22 is cancelled,and the lower rolling member 4D is allowed to come into contact with thedeeper-side upright wall 22 b in the lower rail groove 22. In thisstate, the top board 5 can slide together with the movable supportingmember 4 along the base 2. In the embodiment, an auxiliary rollingmember 4H which can come into contact with a bottom 21 of the upper railgroove 21 is provided for the body 4211 of the slide device 42 (seeFIGS. 18 and 23).

In the embodiment, the mode of moving the rolling members 4C and 4Drelative to the contact members 4A and 4B, respectively, is adopted inassociation with the operation. Consequently, in the case of switchingthe switching mechanism 4E from the movement restriction state to themovement permission state, the relative angle of the movable supportingmember 4 with respect to the base 2 changes, and the movable supportingmember 4 is in the angled posture such that the side opposite to thebase 2 of the movable supporting member 4 is lifted (see FIGS. 22 and23). According to the change in the angle with respect to the base 2 ofthe movable supporting member 4, the top board 5 coupled to the movablesupporting member 4 via the hinge mechanism H and whose other end issupported by the leg member 6 turns around the hinge shaft H1 so as tobe lifted from the movable supporting member 4 as shown in FIGS. 17, 21,and 22. Since the angle of the top board 5 relative to the movablesupporting member 4 is set to be changeable as described above, at thetime of switching the slide device 42 from the movement restrictionstate to the movement permission state by the switching mechanism 4E,only the operating force of changing the angle of the movable supportingmember 4 with respect to the base 2 is necessary. The switchingoperation can be performed with the operating force much lighter thanthat in the mode requiring the operating force for integrally andsimultaneously lifting (changing the angle of) the top board with thesupporting member from the base. Further, in the case of switching theswitching mechanism 4E from the movement restriction state to themovement permission state, as the relative angle between the movablesupporting member 4 and the top board 5 changes, only a part of thepriority support 412 closest to the hinge shaft H1 out of a plurality ofpriority supports 412 comes into contact with the under face of themovable top board body 511, and the contact state between the otherpriority supports 412 and the top board 5 is cancelled.

On the other hand, the operation of switching the switching mechanism 4Eof each of the switching units 422 from the movement permission state tothe movement restriction state is performed as follows. The user gripsthe tongue 4241 a of the sliding operation lever 4241 exposed from thereinforcement member 4212 and turns the sliding operation lever 4241around the sliding operation lever shaft 4242 as a center in thedirection of the arrow B in FIGS. 24 and 25. With the turn of thesliding operation lever 4241, the link interlocking member 4231 movestoward the reinforcement member 4212, and the links 4G1 and 4G2 of theswitching units 422 turn around the link shaft 4232 as a center. Byturning the upper and lower links 4G1 and 4G2 around the common linkshaft 4232 as a center in the direction opposite to that in the case ofswitching the switching mechanism 4E from the movement restriction stateto the movement permission state, the upper rolling member 4C providedat the tip 4G1 a of the upper link 4G1 moves so as to be apart from theopening-side upright wall 21 a of the upper rail groove 21, and thelower rolling member 4D provided at the tip 4G2 a of the lower link 4G2moves so as to be apart from the deeper-side upright wall 22 b of thelower rail groove 22. As a result, the movable supporting member 4 movesdownward by the dead load of the movable supporting member 4 itself andthe dead load of the top board 5. As shown in FIG. 18, the switchingmechanism 4E of each of the switching units 422 cancels the state wherethe upper rolling member 4C is in contact with the opening-side uprightwall 21 a of the upper rail groove 21, makes the upper contact member 4Acome into contact with or press to the opening-side upright wall 21 a ofthe upper rail groove 21, cancels the state where the lower rollingmember 4D is in contact with the deeper-side upright wall 22 b of thelower rail groove 22, and makes the lower contact member 4B come intocontact with or press to the deeper-side upright wall 22 b of the lowerrail groove 22, thereby entering the movement restriction state. Theauxiliary rolling member 4H becomes lifted from the bottom 21 c of theupper rail groove 21. It restricts the sliding of the movable supportingmember 4 and the top board 5 along the base 2.

In the embodiment, in the case of switching the switching mechanism 4Efrom the movement permission state to the movement restriction state,the top board 5 turns toward the movable supporting member 4 around thehinge shaft H1 of the hinge mechanism H according to a change in theangle of the movable supporting member 4 relative to the base 2 and issupported by the priority supports 412.

In the embodiment, to complement the sliding movement/restrictionfunction of the switching mechanism 4E, a side lock lever 4I is providedfor the slide device 42. The side lock lever 4I can turn around a sidelock lever shaft 4Ia as a center, and switch between a state where apress face 4Ib provided in the base portion is press or in contact withthe upright face 2A of the base 2 and a state where the press or contactis cancelled. Further turn of the sliding operation lever 4241 in theswitching operation is restricted by contact of a part of the slidingoperation lever 4241 with the contact part 4243 a of the slidingoperation lever wear plate 4243.

In the desk 1 of the embodiment, the top board 5 can turn horizontallyby the movable supporting member 4 by the action of the turningmechanism 52 as described above, and the movable supporting member 4 isprovided with a gripping mechanism 4J which can be switched between aturn restriction state in which the horizontal turn of the top board 5is restricted by gripping the turn stopper rail 5122 as the “object tobe gripped” integrally provided on the under face side of the movabletop board body 511 and a turn permission state in which the horizontalturn of the top board 5 is permitted by cancelling the gripping state(see FIGS. 17 and 21).

The turn stopper rail 5122 playing the role of the “object to begripped” will be described in detail.

As shown in FIGS. 13A to 13C (plan views showing the relation betweenthe turn stopper rail 5122 and the top board receiving part body 5121,in which the top board receiving part body 5121 and the turn shaft 5 aof the top board 5 are shown by imaginary lines), the turn stopper rail5122 has an almost annular shape in plan view and has a center angleequal to or slightly larger than the horizontal turn angle of the topboard 5. In the embodiment, since the top board 5 can turn by 180degrees, the turn stopper rail 5122 of a semicircular shape having acentral angle of 180 degrees or slightly larger than 180 degrees isapplied. The turn stopper rail 5122 has an almost L shape in crosssection made by an upright part 5122 a almost orthogonal to the face ofthe top board 5 and a horizontal part 5122 b horizontally extendingtoward the inside from the lower edge of the upright part 5122 a. In theembodiment, the upright part 5122 a and the horizontal part 5122 b areintegrally formed. The turn stopper rail 5122 is positioned on the underface in the front-half region of the top board receiving part body 5121,and the turn stopper rail 5122 and the top board receiving part body5121 are integrally attached to the under face side of the movable topboard body 511 by screwing or the like. The height of the turn stopperrail 5122 is set to be larger than that of the turntable 521.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIGS. 14 to 16, the grippingmechanism 4J has: a drag member 4J1 capable of turning around thehorizontal axis between a position (A) capable of gripping in which theturn stopper rail 5122 (more concretely, the horizontal part 5122 b) canbe gripped and a grip cancellation position (B) in which the grippingstate is cancelled; and an operation part 4J2 for applying an operatingforce for switching the drag member 4J1 between the position (A) capableof gripping and the grip cancellation position (B).

The drag member 4J1 has a drag member body 4J11 extending in thehorizontal direction and a pair of trailing pieces 4J12 trailed fromboth ends of the drag member body 4J11. In the embodiment, the dragmember 4J1 is made of a material having high rigidity such as a metal,and integrally has the drag member body 4J11 and the pair of trailingpieces 4J12. A grip nail 4J11 a which can come into direct contact withthe turn stopper rail 5122 is provided at the tip of the drag memberbody 4J11. The grip nail 4J11 a is rounded corresponding to rounding ofthe turn stopper rail 5122. The grip nail 4J11 a is set so that itsheight is gradually decreased toward the front end. The grip nail 4J11 ain the drag member body 4J11 is projected forward from the trailingpieces 4J12 (to the base 2 side). In each of the trailing pieces 4J12, afirst insertion hole 4J12 a for the drag member rotary shaft to which arotary shaft 4JX of the drag member 4J1 can be inserted and a firstguide hole 4J12 b specifying the movement rail between the position (A)capable of gripping and the grip cancellation position (B) of the dragmember 4J1 are formed. In the embodiment, the first insertion hole 4J12a for the drag rotary shaft is formed in a position deviated from thecenter of gravity of the drag member 4J1. The first guide hole 4J12 b isa long hole extending along a direction tilted from the drag member body4J11 by a predetermined angle.

The operation part 4J2 has an almost lever shape and is provided with atongue 4J21 at its tip. In the base portion, a cam face 4J22 having astraight part and a curved part and a first insertion hole 4J23 in whicha rotary shaft 4JY of the operation part 4J2 can be inserted are formed.The width of the operation part 4J2 is set to be smaller than thedistance between the outer faces of the trailing pieces 4J12 of the dragmember 4J1.

In the embodiment, the gripping mechanism 4J is provided so as to beassociated with the reinforcement frame 411 d in the frame body 411 inthe supporting member 4. The gripping mechanism 4J has, therefore, anoperation part supporting member 4 j 3 whose one end is fixed to thereinforcement frame 411 d and supporting the operation part 4J2, and anoperation part wear plate 4 j 4 provided between the reinforcement frame411 d and the operation part 4J2.

The operation part supporting member 4J3 has a pair of upright pieces4J31 whose tips are fixed to the reinforcement frame 411 d by welding orthe like, and a connection piece 4J32 connecting the upper ends of thebase portions of the upright pieces 4J31. In the embodiment, by bendinga single steel plate, the upright pieces 4J31 and the connection piece4J32 are formed. A second insertion hole 4J31 a for the drag memberrotary shaft, which is communicated with the first insertion hole 4J12 afor the drag member rotary shaft formed in the trailing piece 4J12 ofthe drag member 4J1 is formed in the front end side of each of theupright pieces 4J31. In an almost center portion in the longitudinaldirection of each of the upright pieces 4J31, a second guide hole 4J31 bspecifying the movement locus of the operation part 4J2 when theoperating force is applied to the operation part 4J2 is formed. In theembodiment, a long hole extending along the longitudinal direction ofthe upright pieces 4J31 is applied as the second guide hole 4J31 b. Thedistance between the inner faces of the upright pieces 4J31 is set to belarger than the distance between the outer faces of the trailing pieces4J12 of the drag member 4J1.

The operation part wear plate 4J4 has an almost U shape in section,including an upright piece 4J41 and an upper piece 4J42 and a lowerpiece 4J43 extending forward from the upper and lower edges of theupright piece 4J41. In the embodiment, by bending a single steel plate,the upright piece 4J41 and the upper and lower pieces 4J42 and 4J43 areformed. The upper piece 4J42 projected forward from the lower piece 4J43is fixed to the top face of the auxiliary frame 411 d by welding or thelike, and the tip of the lower piece 4J43 is fixed to the rear face ofthe auxiliary frame 411 d by welding or the like. A pair of insertionholes 4J41 a in which a pair of turn stopper pins 4JP can be insertedare formed in the upright piece 4J41. A hole 411 da capable of housingthe turn stopper pin 4JP is formed in the reinforcement frame 411 d, anda space 4J2 s capable of housing the turn stopper pin 4JP is formed inthe base portion of the operation part 4J2 (see FIG. 14).

The turn stopper pin 4JP is inserted continuously in the turn stopperpin hole 411 da in the reinforcement frame 411 d and the turn stopperpin hole 4J41 a in the operation part wear plate 4J4, and the front partof each of the turn stopper pins 4JP is positioned in the turn stopperpin housing space 4J2 s in the operation part 4J2. In the state, thesecond guide hole 4J31 b in the operation part supporting member 4J3,the first guide hole 4J12 b in the drag member 4J1, the first insertionhole 4J23 for the operation rotary shaft in the operation part 4J2, andthe second insertion hole 4JPa for the operation part rotary shaftformed in the front end part of the turn stopper pin 4JP arecommunicated with each other. The rotary shaft 4JY of the operation part4J2 is continuously inserted in the holes 4J31 a, 4J12 b, 4J23, and4JPa. On the other hand, the second insertion hole 4J31 a for the dragmember rotary shaft in the operation part supporting member 4J3 and thefirst insertion hole 4J12 a for the drag rotary shaft in the drag member4J1 are communicated with each other, and the rotary shaft 4JX of thedrag member 4J1 is continuously inserted in the holes 4J31 a and 4J12 a.By the above operations, the gripping mechanism 4J formed by associatingthe reinforcement frame 411 d, the drag member 4J1, the operation part4J2, the operation part supporting member 4J3, and the operation partwear plate 4J4 is assembled integrally with the supporting member 4. Theattachment position of the reinforcement frame 411 d is set so as tocoincide on an imaginary straight line connecting the pair of prioritysupports 412 provided on the base 2 side out of a plurality of prioritysupports 412 provided for the supporting member 4. The grippingmechanism 4J provided for the reinforcement frame 411 d is positioned inor near the support area of the priority supports 412 (see FIGS. 17 and18 which will be described later). The rotary shafts 4JX and 4JY areretained by each having a head part of a large diameter, having afastener such as an E ring, by caulking, or the like.

The operating method and the action of the gripping mechanism 4J willnow be described.

When the drag member 4J1 is positioned in the position (A) capable ofgripping, by gripping the horizontal part 5122 b of the turn stopperrail 5122 by the grip nail 4J11 a of the drag member 4J1, the turnrestriction state in which the horizontal turn of the top board 5 isrestricted is set (see FIG. 8). In this case, the operation part 4J2makes the linear part of the cam face 4 j 22 come into contact with orpress to the operation part wear plate 4J4. The posture becomesgenerally horizontal and the maximum height of the operation part 4J2 issmaller than that of the frame body 411. The rotary shaft 4JY of theoperation part 4J2 is positioned at the lower edge of the first guidehole 4J12 b formed in the drag member 4J1 and also at the rear edge (theside opposite to the base 2) of the second guide hole 4J31 b formed inthe operation part supporting member 4J3. The rotary shaft 4JY of theoperation part 4J2 is locked in a state where it is positioned at thelower edge of the first guide hole 4J12 b, thereby restricting turn ofthe drag member 4J1 around the rotary shaft 4JX as a center, and lockingthe drag member 4J1 in the position (A) capable of gripping. In the casewhere the gripping mechanism 4J is in the turn restriction state, theunder face of the movable top board body 511 is supported by a pluralityof priority supports 412.

On the other hand, to switch the gripping mechanism 4J from the turnrestriction state to the turn permission state, the user grips thetongue 4J21 of the operation part 4 j 2 and applies the operating forceof turning the operation part 4J2 downward. On the basis of theoperating force, the operation part 4J2 turns downward around the rotaryshaft 4JY as a center. At the time point when the operation part 4J2 isturned by a predetermined angle, an object to come into contact with orto be pressed against the operation part wear plate 4J4 is changed fromthe linear part in the cam face 4J22 of the operation part 4J2 to thecurved part, and the rotary shaft 4JY of the operation part 4J2 movesforward (to the base 2 side) along the second guide hole 4J31 b. As therotary shaft 4JY moves, the drag member 4J1 turns rearward (to the base2 side) around the rotary shaft 4JX as a center and moves to the gripcancellation position (B) where the grip nail 4J11 a is apart from thehorizontal part 5122 b of the turn stopper rail 5122 (see FIG. 15). Theturn locus between the position (A) capable of gripping and the gripcancellation position (B) of the drag member 4J1 is specified by thefirst guide hole 4112 b. That is, when the drag member 4J1 moves betweenthe position (A) capable of gripping and the grip cancellation position(B), the height of the rotary shaft 4JY of the operation part 4J2 isunchanged. When the drag member 4J1 is in the position (A) capable ofgripping, the rotary shaft 4JY of the operation part 4J2 is positionedat the lower edge of the first guide hole 4J12 b. When the drag member4J1 is in the grip cancellation position (B), the rotary shaft 4JY ofthe operation part 4J2 is positioned at the upper edge of the firstguide hole 4J12 b. When the drag member 4J1 is moved from the position(A) capable of gripping to the grip cancellation position (B), apart ofthe trailing piece 4J12 of the drag member 4J1 comes into contact withthe reinforcement frame 411 d, further turn in the same direction of thedrag member 4J1 is restricted. Since the rotary shaft 4JX is provided ina position displaced from the center of gravity of the drag member 4J1,the movement from the position (A) capable of gripping to the gripcancellation position (B) of the drag member 4J1 can be performed byusing the dead load of the drag member 4J1. By moving the drag member4J1 from the position (A) capable of gripping to the grip cancellationposition (B), the gripping mechanism 4J cancels the grip state of theturn stopper rail 5122 by the drag member 4J1 and the reinforcementframe 411 d, and a turn permission state in which a horizontal turn ofthe top board 5 is permitted is obtained. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18,the posture of the top board 5 at an angle with respect to the base 2such as a posture in which the longitudinal direction of the top board 5is almost orthogonal to that of the base 2 or a posture in which thelongitudinal direction of the top board 5 is almost parallel with thelongitudinal direction of the base 2 can be properly selected. FIGS. 17and 18 show the gripping mechanism 4J in which the drag member 4J1 is inthe position (A) capable of gripping and a part of the grippingmechanism 4J is not shown.

In the case where the gripping mechanism 4J is in the turn permissionstate, as shown in FIG. 16, the top board 5 can turn so as to be liftedfrom the supporting member 4 around the hinge shaft H1 of the hingemechanism H.

By moving the drag member 4J1 from the position (A) capable of grippingto the grip cancellation position (B), the gripping mechanism 4J cancelsthe grip state of the turn stopper rail 5122 by the drag member 4J1 andenters the turn permission state of permitting the horizontal turn ofthe top board 5. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the posture of the topboard 5 at an angle with respect to the base 2 such as a posture inwhich the longitudinal direction of the top board 5 is almost orthogonalto that of the base 2 or a posture in which the longitudinal directionof the top board 5 is almost parallel with the longitudinal direction ofthe base 2 can be properly selected. FIGS. 17 and 18 show the grippingmechanism 4J in which the drag member 4J1 is in the position (A) capableof gripping and a part of the gripping mechanism 4J is not shown.

On the other hand, the operation of switching the gripping mechanism 4Jfrom the turn permission state to the turn restriction state isperformed by applying an operating force of returning the operation part4J2 to the original position. Prior to the operation of switching thegripping mechanism 4J from the turn permission state to the turnrestriction state, the top board 5 has to be reset to the normal useposition shown in FIG. 15. When the user grips the tongue 4J21 of theoperation part 4J2 and applies the operating force of turning theoperation part 4J2 upward, the operation part 4J2 turns upward aroundthe rotary shaft 4JY as a center. At the time point when the operationpart 4J2 is turned by a predetermined angle, an object to come intocontact with or to be pressed against the operation part wear plate 4J4is changed from the curved part in the cam face 4J22 of the operationpart 4J2 to the linear part, and the rotary shaft 4JY of the operationpart 4J2 moves rearward (to the side opposite to the base 2) along thesecond guide hole 4J31 b. As the rotary shaft 4JY moves, the drag member4J1 turns forward (to the base 2 side) around the rotary shaft 4JX as acenter and is positioned in the position (A) capable of gripping wherethe horizontal part 5122 b of the turn stopper rail 5122 is gripped. Bymoving the drag member 4J1 from the grip cancellation position (B) tothe position (A) capable of gripping, the horizontal part 5122 b of theturn stopper rail 5122 is led downward (to the reinforcement frame 411 dside) and the horizontal turn of the top board 5 is restricted. Inassociation with the operation of switching the gripping mechanism 4Jfrom the turn permission state to the turn restriction state, the dragmember 4J1 of the switching mechanism 4J pushes the horizontal part 5122b of the turn stopper rail 5122 downward. By the operation, the movabletop board body 511 is pulled down together with the turn stopper rail5122, and the under face of the movable top board body 511 is pressedagainst the priority support 412, thereby assuring a state where the topboard 5 is excellently supported. The turn locus between the position(A) capable of gripping and the grip cancellation position (B) of thedrag member 4J1 is specified by the first guide hole 4J12 b as describedabove. At the time of performing the operation of moving the drag member4J1 from the grip cancellation position (B) to the position (A) capableof gripping, a part of the operation part 4J2 comes into contact withthe connection piece 4J32 of the operation part supporting member 4J3,thereby restricting further turn of the operation part 4J2 in the samedirection.

The gripping mechanism 4J is switched by the turn regulation state andthe turn permission state by an operation as described above, therebycapable of controlling permission/restriction of the turning operationof the top board 5, and also controlling permission/restriction of aturn to lift the top board 5 using the hinge mechanism H by the grippingmechanism 4J.

In the case where the gripping mechanism 4J is in the turn restrictionstate, as shown in FIG. 8, the hinge mechanism H enters a turnrestriction state in which the turn to lift the top board 5 up using thehinge mechanism H is restricted. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 16,the gripping mechanism 4J enters the turn permission state in which theturn to lift the top board 5 using the hinge mechanism H is permitted.That is, the gripping mechanism 4J also functions as a top board liftingregulating mechanism of regulating the top board lifting operation.

The hinge mechanism H according to the embodiment has, as shown in FIGS.17 and 18, no orientation rotation permitting means of permitting turnto lift the top board 5 in any posture of the top board 5 with respectto the supporting member 4 and the base 2 such as a posture in which thelongitudinal direction of the top board 5 is almost orthogonal to thelongitudinal direction of the base 2 or a posture in which thelongitudinal direction of the top board 5 is almost parallel with thelongitudinal direction of the base 2. In the embodiment, by using a longhole as the second insertion hole 4111 d for the hinge shaft formed inthe hinge shaft receiving member 4111, turn permission means isrealized.

As shown in FIG. 17, in the case where the top board 5 is set at a turnangle at which the longitudinal direction of the top board 5 is almostorthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the base 2, the longitudinaldirection of the top board 5 is almost orthogonal to the axial directionof the hinge shaft H1. As shown in FIG. 19, the hinge shaft H1 turnswhile hardly changing the height position in the second insertion hole4111 d for the hinge shaft, and permits a turn to lift the top board 5.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 18, when the top board 5 is set at aturn angle at which the longitudinal direction of the top board 5 isalmost parallel with the longitudinal direction of the base 2, thelongitudinal direction of the top board 5 and the axial direction of thehinge shaft H1 are almost parallel with each other. As shown in FIG. 20,as the top board 5 turns to lift up, the hinge shaft H1 tilts (lifts)according to the lifting angle (turn angle) of the top board 5 withinthe second insertion hole 4111 d for the hinge shaft, thereby assuringsmooth turn to lift the top board 5. In FIGS. 19 and 20, the grippingmechanism 4J and the turn stopper mechanism 4K are not shown. FIG. 18shows that the gripping mechanism 4J is in the turn restriction state(turn restriction state), so that turn to lift the top board 5 isrestricted. FIG. 20 as a partly cutaway y-y cross section of FIG. 18shows a state where the top board 5 turns to be lifted for convenienceof description.

The desk 1 of the embodiment has the stationary top board 5X whoseposition relative to the base 2 cannot be changed.

For example, the longitudinal dimension of the stationary top board 5Xis set to be almost equal to or slightly smaller than that of the base2. In the embodiment, the stationary top board 5X having an almostrectangular shape in plan view is applied. The stationary top board 5Xis supported by the stationary supporting member 4X.

As shown in FIG. 35, the stationary supporting member 4X has anattachment part 4X1 which can be attached to the rail grooves 21 and 22in the base 2 and an arm 4X2 extending from the attachment part 4X1toward the under face of the stationary top board 5X.

The attachment part 4X1 has an upper insertion part 4X11 which can beinserted in the upper rail groove 21 and a lower insertion part 4X12which can be inserted in the tower rail groove 22. In the embodiment,the upper and lower insertion parts 4X11 and 4X12 are formed by a singlesteel plate and are connected to each other via a connection part 4X13.

By inserting the upper and lower insertion parts 4X11 and 4X12 in theupper and lower rail grooves 21 and 22 so as to be retained,respectively, the upper insertion part 4X11 comes into contact with oris pressed against the opening-side upright wall 21 a of the upper railgroove 21 by the dead load of the stationary supporting member 4Xitself, and the lower insertion part 4X12 comes into contact with or ispressed against the deeper-side upright wall 22 b of the lower railgroove 22. As a result, the stationary supporting member 4X can be fixedin a state where the support strength effective to the base 2 isassured. In the embodiment, the upper insertion part 4X11 has a contactpart 4X11 a which directly comes into contact with or is pressed againstthe opening-side upright wall 21 a of the upper rail groove 21 and anauxiliary contact part 4X11 b which can come into contact with thebottom 21 c of the upper rail groove 21. The upper and lower insertionparts 4X11 and 4X12 are allowed to come into face contact with theupright walls 21 a and 22 b of the rails 21 and 22, so that effectivesupport strength can be displayed.

One end of the arm 4X2 is attached to the attachment part 4X1, and theother end is attached to the under face of the stationary top board 5X.In the embodiment, one end of the arm 4X2 is integrally attached to theconnection part 4X13 of the attachment part 4X1 by welding or the like,and the other end of the arm 4X2 is integrally attached to the underface of the stationary top board 5X by welding or the like.

Such stationary supporting members 4X are provided on both sides of thestationary top board 5X, and the stationary top board 5X is supportedonly by the stationary supporting members 4X.

As described above, the desk 1 according to the second embodimentproduces effects similar to those of the desk 1 of the first embodiment.That is, the top board 5 supported by the movable supporting member 4can be moved along the base 2, the layout can be changed easily, and theorder of a work space and an entire office using the base 2 as areference can be maintained by restricting the movement range of the topboard 5 by the base 2. Further, since the movable supporting member 4can slide along the base 2, it is unnecessary to perform theconventional work of once cancelling a state where screws or insertionparts are screwed or fit in screw holes or fit holes, and screwing orfitting the screws or insertion parts again to different screw holes orfit holes each time the layout is changed. The layout can be easily andaccurately changed by the user himself/herself without asking for aspecialist.

Since the stationary supporting member 4X supported along the base 2 soas to be able to slide and the stationary top board 5X supported by thestationary supporting member 4X, as shown in FIG. 34, an area in whichthe layout can be changed by using the base 2 in common and an area inwhich the layout cannot be changed can be formed in the single area ofthe desk 1. The invention can be adapted to both of the environmentwhere the layout is changed frequently and the environment where thelayout is not changed.

The movable supporting member 4 can be moved along the base 2 and thestationary supporting member 4X can be attached to the base 2 by usingthe rails 21 and 22 having the same shape. Consequently, at the time ofselecting/changing a desired mode from a mode of using one of areassandwiching the base 2 as a boundary as a work space in which layout canbe changed and the other area as a work space in which layout cannot bechanged, a mode of using both of the areas as work spaces in whichlayout can be changed, and a mode of using both of the areas as workspaces in which layout cannot be changed, the common rails 2 can be usedwithout changing the rails 2.

In addition, since the stationary top board 5X can be supported at oneend or cantilevered by the stationary supporting member 4X, the legmember is unnecessary, so that the space below the stationary top board5X can be assured wide.

The invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments described indetail.

For example, as the top board, a top board supported by being simply puton the movable supporting member, or a top board supported by themovable supporting member so as not to be horizontally turnable may beapplied.

Although the linearly extending base has been described in theembodiments, the invention is not limited to the base. A base extendedin a curved shape (circular curve or elliptic curve shape) or a baseextending while meandering may be used.

It is also possible to employ a mode of supporting the top board at aplurality of positions (for example, both ends) by a plurality of (forexample, two) movable supporting members supported by the same base, ora mode of supporting a part (for example, one end) of the top board by amovable supporting member supported by a base and supporting anotherpart (for example, the other end) of the top board by a movablesupporting member supported by another base.

Similarly, a mode of supporting a part (for example, one end) of thestationary top board by a stationary supporting member supported by abase and supporting another part (for example, the other end) of thestationary top board by a stationary supporting member supported byanother base may be employed.

On the other hand, in the mode of supporting a part of the top board bya leg member, a leg member which is not provided with the moving body atits lower end may be applied. In this case, it is sufficient to move thetop board in a state where the top board is lifted to a position atwhich the lower end of the leg member floats from the floor. Further, aleg member having an adjuster for correcting unevenness of the legmember or the tilt of the top board may be applied. In the case ofapplying a leg member having a moving member such as a caster, byproviding locking means regulating rolling of the moving member,unexpected movement of the top board after layout is changed can beprevented.

The stationary top board may be supported together with the stationarysupporting member by a leg member.

It is sufficient to support the movable supporting member so as to bemovable along the base. The movable supporting member may be supportedmovably and continuously, or step by step in predetermined pitches. Themovable supporting member may not be slid using the rolling memberillustrated in the embodiment but may be moved in a state where asliding member or contact member provided for the movable supportingmember slides or in contact with the guide of the base. A desk havinglocking means which can be switched between a state where one or both ofthe movable supporting member and the top board can be moved and a statewhere one or both of them cannot be moved may be employed.

Further, an snap action mechanism for snapping and stopping thehorizontal turn angle of the top board every predetermined angle may beprovided between the top board and the movable supporting member. In thecase where the top board is supported by the movable supporting memberso as to be turnable in the horizontal direction, by providing turnlocking mechanism capable of switching between a horizontal turnpermission state in which horizontal turn of the top plate is permittedand a horizontal turn restriction state in which the horizontal turn ofthe top board is restricted between the top board and the movablesupporting member, unexpected turn movement of the top board afterlayout is changed can be prevented.

The rail in the guide may have a groove shape or a projected shape, andthe number of rails may be properly increased or decreased. Similarly, aprojected rail may be applied as the rail in the attachment part, andthe number of rails may be properly increased or decreased. As optionalmembers, a socket, a wire housing member, an armed telephone stand, atray, a display arm, and the like may be applied.

In the case where a plurality of desks are arranged so that a pluralityof bases are continued in the longitudinal direction, preferably, themovable supporting member provided so as to be movable to one base canbe moved from the one base to another base adjacent thereto. With such aconfiguration, the top board which is supported by the movablesupporting member can be moved from one base to another base adjacentthereto, and variations of selectable layouts can be increased. In thiscase, by providing passage permission parts for permitting passage ofthe movable supporting member for both ends of the base or end capsattached to both ends of the base, excellent movement of the movablesupporting member can be assured. Examples of the passage permissionparts are the guide itself provided for the base, and a notch or a slitformed in a part corresponding to the guide in the end cap.

Each of the top board, the stationary top board, and the like may havevarious shapes such as a circular shape, an ellipse shape, and apolygonal shape in plan view.

Storage furniture such as a wagon or a front panel may be disposed in alower space formed below the under face of the base or the under face ofthe top board. As the base, in place of the base whose both ends aresupported by the base supporting member and whose under face isseparated (lifted) from the floor, the base whose under face is incontact with the floor and having an upright wall shape also functioningas an end rail may be used.

FIGS. 2, 13, and 34 shows the mode of arranging the stationary topboards 5X in parallel in the longitudinal direction, so that workersusing the top boards 5X sit side by side. Alternately, layout in whichthe longitudinal direction of the stationary top boards is orthogonal tothe longitudinal direction of the base may be employed.

A mode of supporting a single stationary top board by one or three ormore stationary supporting members may be employed.

Fixation of the stationary supporting member to the base and fixationbetween the stationary supporting member and the stationary top boardmay be performed by screwing.

The concrete configurations of the other parts are not limited to thoseof the foregoing embodiments but can be variously modified withoutdeparting from the gist of the present invention.

1. A desk comprising: a base extending in a predetermined direction; amovable supporting member supported so as to be movable along the base;and a top board supported by the movable supporting member.
 2. A deskcomprising: a base extending in a predetermined direction; a movablesupporting member supported so as to be movable along the base; and atop board supported by the movable supporting member, wherein themovable supporting member can move along the base together with the topboard in a state where the movable supporting member supports the topboard.
 3. The desk according to claim 1, wherein the top board issupported by the movable supporting member so as to be turnable in thehorizontal direction.
 4. The desk according to claim 1, furthercomprising a leg member supporting a region different from a regionsupported by the movable supporting member, in the top board, wherein amovable body capable of moving on a floor is provided at a lower end ofthe leg member.
 5. The desk according to claim 1, wherein the base isprovided with a guide for guiding movement of the movable supportingmember, and the movable supporting member is provided with a guided partwhich is guided by the guide.
 6. The desk according to claim 5, whereinthe guide is a rail formed along an extension direction of the base. 7.The desk according to claim 6, wherein the guided part has a rollingmember capable of rolling along the rail formed in the base.
 8. The deskaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a stationary supporting membersupported by the base and not being able to slide; and a stationary topboard supported by the stationary supporting member.
 9. The deskaccording to claim 8, wherein the base has a pair of upright facesfacing each other along the longitudinal direction, one of the uprightfaces is provided with a guide for guiding movement of the movablesupporting member, and the other upright face is provided with anattachment part for attaching the stationary supporting member.
 10. Thedesk according to claim 9, wherein the guide and the attachment part arerails having the same shape.
 11. The desk according to claim 8, whereinthe stationary top board is cantilevered by the stationary supportingmember.
 12. An office construction system comprising a plurality ofdesks according to claim 1, wherein layout can be changed according tothe kind of a work or the like.
 13. The desk according to claim 2,wherein the top board is supported by the movable supporting member soas to be turnable in the horizontal direction.
 14. The desk according toclaim 2, further comprising a leg member supporting a region differentfrom a region supported by the movable supporting member, in the topboard, wherein a movable body capable of moving on a floor is providedat a lower end of the leg member.
 15. The desk according to claim 2,wherein the base is provided with a guide for guiding movement of themovable supporting member, and the movable supporting member is providedwith a guided part which is guided by the guide.
 16. The desk accordingto claim 15, wherein the guide is a rail formed along an extensiondirection of the base.
 17. The desk according to claim 16, wherein theguided part has a rolling member capable of rolling along the railformed in the base.
 18. The desk according to claim 2, furthercomprising: a stationary supporting member supported by the base and notbeing able to slide; and a stationary top board supported by thestationary supporting member.
 19. The desk according to claim 18,wherein the base has a pair of upright faces facing each other along thelongitudinal direction, one of the upright faces is provided with aguide for guiding movement of the movable supporting member, and theother upright face is provided with an attachment part for attaching thestationary supporting member.
 20. The desk according to claim 19,wherein the guide and the attachment part are rails having the sameshape.
 21. The desk according to claim 18, wherein the stationary topboard is cantilevered by the stationary supporting member.
 22. The deskaccording to claim 19, wherein the stationary top board is cantileveredby the stationary supporting member.
 23. An office construction systemcomprising a plurality of desks according to claim 2, wherein layout canbe changed according to the kind of a work or the like.